Denmark pushes EU to simplify AI Act and DSA while tightening online child protection

Denmark’s digital affairs minister Caroline Stage Olsen signaled that the European Commission’s forthcoming “omnibus” simplification package, due 10 December, should also review the AI Act and the Digital Services Act. As chair of the EU Council configuration on digital files through December, Denmark intends to seek cross‑border consensus on trimming reporting burdens and streamlining interpretations across the digital rulebook. The Commission’s digital fitness check targets the removal of duplicative or low‑value compliance obligations, particularly for SMEs.

The scope of the package remains unsettled for legislation that is either newly in force or not fully applicable, including the DMA, DSA, and AI Act. The AI Act entered into force in August 2024, with full application expected in 2027. Stage Olsen emphasized that simplifying guidance and reducing reporting where possible would prevent unnecessary implementation costs without undermining core safeguards.

Pressure to recalibrate timelines and obligations is mounting. More than 40 European CEOs—among them ASML, Philips, Siemens, and Mistral—have urged a two‑year “clock‑stop” before key AI Act duties activate, arguing that compliance windows are too compressed. US officials and major American platforms have criticized the EU framework as restrictive, though Denmark framed the review as a sovereignty‑driven effort to ensure Europe’s competitiveness and regulatory clarity on its own terms.

Beyond simplification, Denmark’s presidency will prioritize protecting minors online, including mandatory age‑verification measures. In parallel, Culture Minister Jakob Engel‑Schmidt is seeking EU‑wide backing for stronger deepfake controls, following Denmark’s new prohibition on sharing digital imitations of personal characteristics. Together, these moves point to a dual track: easing compliance frictions while tightening targeted protections for users.